 For sports applications that need single stream video playback, there is no better media presenter than the EDIROL PR-50.
The University of Kentucky's athletic department has chosen the EDIROL PR-50 to use with their videoboard. When Greg Pare from the Media Support Group showed the university's Director of Sports Video Kip Perkins the presenter and insisted it couldn't crash, after seeing the PR-50 in action Perkins looked no further. Kept in the control room for use at women's basketball, volleyball and gymnastics teams, the PR-50 handles the instant playback of video roll-ins, sponsor highlights and replay bumps.
Before the University of Kentucky had the PR-50, they used a controller to trigger an older server that played back sponsor clips and because the server traveled to and from the stadium on gamedays, it withstood a fair amount of abuse. Trouble with the controller after switching banks, occasionally being difficult to load and losing all content at an event triggered Perkins to search for a better solution; with the PR-50 they found one.
Although reliability was the main reason for its purchase, they have found some features within the PR-50 that have streamlined their production. They bump sponsor logos (hence these spots being referred to as "bumps") that are played before they transition back to live action. These bumps are readily available on the PR-50 and visible using the touchscreen that is attached to the PR-50 where their visual palette of clips is neatly organized for quick retrieval.
Perkins loves the idea of the clips on the PR-50 being activated by the touchscreen. "It greatly increases the proficiency with which we can cut a show. In the event something in the script changes, the touchscreen provides the flexibility to adjust quickly and support the new event at a moment's notice. When I went to see the PR-50 for the first time I was skeptical that it operated as suggested, but upon attempting to crash the system by touching all the icons on the screen as quickly as possible, I became confident the PR-50 was right for our application!"
With their off-site NLE, they edit "video headshots" to use for intros to individual highlight packages for their gymnastics team. Team members like the headshot clips so much that Perkins incorporates them into the starting lineup routine. In addition to making the team players happy, these headshots being readily available on the PR-50 make the A/V crew's life easier because they provide a safety net in case a quick cut-away from the game isn't possible; a good still shot fills this space nicely and can be inserted quickly from the PR-50.
Although the university has other venues in the athletic department where the PR-50 could be used, Perkins is now so reliant on his PR-50 that he is not willing to move his unit. The EDIROL PR-50 has a permanent home at the University of Kentucky because of the presenter's stability and rapid playback of sports video clips.
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